It Began with a Man in a Raffle

By Diane M. Pratt

Lexi is excited about the new mystery shop opening next to hers, but the suspense is killing her. None of the other shop owners on Ocean Street have been able to discover just what the shop will be selling. Her attempts to find out the truth aren't going well, and she decides she can't wait another second. Braving the papered over windows and door of the new shop, she brings a box of sweets from the bakery as a welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift. She knows the mystery is about to be solved and can't wait to share the news with the other shop owners.

 

Linc is hoping to pick up the pieces of his life after a career ending injury put paid to his life-long dream of making it to the Major Leagues, and he moves 700 miles away to leave his past behind and make a new start. Instead of feeling welcomed, he has an unpleasant encounter with one of the Bentley natives and wonders if he's made a huge mistake.

 

Instead of the pleasant conversation she anticipates, Lexi receives the coldest of cold shoulders from her new neighbor, who doesn't even bother to introduce himself. Just because she accidentally throws a bag of garbage at him and drops a box of brownies on his feet is no reason for him to be all snippy with her. Then Lexi learns she will be partnered with the man, Linc Easton, in the Ocean Street Shops' Christmas fundraiser this year and she knows she's going to have to summon enough Christmas spirit for both of them. No matter how impossible it will be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diane M. Pratt
• Release date: Dec 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393100508

Diane M. Pratt

Diane M. Pratt lives on Cape Cod where she avoids the summer traffic by hiding at home with her trusty laptop, long-suffering husband, and all the chocolate she can find. Escaping from reality in a romance novel, the ultimate goal a happy ending, is her idea of a good read.  

Book preview

Chapter 1

Lexi stood between the racks of toddler dresses and gazed out Stairsteps’ plate glass window at the cars cruising Ocean Street and thought about the immediate future. Halloween was in the books for another year, which meant it was time to decorate her shop for Christmas. She thought about asking Keith to help her since they would be celebrating their second Christmas together, especially since he’d been a little distant lately and she thought maybe they needed a little fun time to bring them closer before things at the shop got really crazy. Maybe she’d call him to feel him out and tell him the neighboring shops would be decorating and she needed to keep up. The neighboring shops with the exception of the store to her immediate left, that was. The store which, until October 1 st , a scant four weeks ago, had worn a sign entitled Bedecked and sold beautiful women’s clothing. A good deal of Lexi’s closet had begun its journey in that very store, and she was already missing Alice, the former owner, as much as she missed the unique offerings.  

Thanks to Alice retiring and selling out, Bentley, Massachusetts, no longer had a women’s clothing store, let alone one so conveniently located. Instead of Alice and Bedecked being her neighbors, there would be... And that was the problem right there. Lexi had no idea what or who would be taking the place of Bedecked. Nor did any of the other shop owners she’d spoken with, nor did Emma, despite the hours they’d spent discussing the possibilities as they ticketed new stock, straightened the racks and shelves, and vacuumed and dusted the shop during quiet times.

The brown paper completely covering the windows of the newest shop, coupled with the absence of a sign, made it impossible to discover what exactly was going on. Thanks to the thick walls separating the shops, she and Emma couldn’t even hear what was going on, but they knew there had to be something. Shops didn’t magically become stocked with merchandise without people around noticing something. The thought of taking a walk over to see exactly what was what had occurred to them, but they’d agreed they weren’t the kind of people who snooped. Or at least wanted to be caught snooping. They’d been waiting for someone else to take that step and share the news with the rest of the shop owners, but so far no one had come forward.

Lexi had wondered if whoever had bought the shop would also be living in the second-floor apartment above it, as she’d done since she bought Stairsteps from her grandmother four years ago. Gram had had enough of being a shop owner and having to deal with the stairs to her apartment, and Lexi had been ready for a new venture and adventure, and the fact Lexi was able to work with Emma, her bestie, was a huge plus.

She told herself to focus on Christmas decorations, and particularly the tree they’d be putting on the sidewalk in front of the window, which was a better use of her time than speculating about the new neighbor. Eying the colorful racks and shelves around her, she hoped the new shop wasn’t going to be selling children’s clothing, too.

When Emma came in, Lexi met her in the back room. Anything new next door?

The paper is still on the windows, unfortunately, Emma said.

I wish they’d hurry up and open. This waiting is driving me crazy.

Patience, grasshopper.

You want to know just as much as I do.

Emma grinned. Yes, I’m just quieter about it.

The late afternoon had been slow, and Lexi suggested Emma leave a little early since Lexi doubted there would be any last-minute stampedes. As she was getting ready to close, she saw Keith come into the shop, his blond hair catching the last of the sun’s rays. They hadn’t made plans to go out tonight and his visit was a surprise, but she could take the opportunity to ask him about helping her decorate the shop. Taking a closer look, she realized this was not one of his happy days and wondered if things hadn’t gone well at the office again. Hi. Did you get out of work early?

Keith shrugged. A few minutes.

Not much enthusiasm happening, but at least he wasn’t out and out grumpy. Good for you. You know, I can’t wait to find out what’s going in next door. I hope it’s not something Emma and I will regret. She watched him exhale slowly, his eyes not meeting hers, and she felt a stirring of uneasiness.

Listen, Lexi, I think our relationship has run its course.

Run its course? They’d only been together a little over a year. Run its course? What exactly are you saying, Keith?

I need to be with someone who isn’t so critical and negative about everything.

Wow. She was critical and negative? I’m, uh, I’m sorry you feel that way.

Well, I do. So that’s it.

That’s it? Wrapping her arms around her waist, she stared at him, but he wouldn’t meet her eyes. Apparently, the Ocean Street traffic was much more interesting. Probably the complete opposite of critical and negative. Whatever that was.

Goodbye.

She watched him turn quickly and head out the door, taking their twelve months plus with him, and she continued to watch until he disappeared from her sight. Walking much more slowly to the door than Keith had, she locked it then turned the sign to Closed, thinking it was unfortunate she didn’t also have a sign saying Beware: Shopkeeper is Critical and Negative.

Glimpsing herself in the wall mirror as she returned to the counter, Lexi saw how pale she looked. Great. Now she was washed out, in addition to being negative and critical. She examined how she felt about being dumped as she finished closing up, wiping a stray tear from her cheek as she counted down the register. Then she went to open the back door, calling repeatedly for Desdemona, but she didn’t appear. Maybe she was too critical and negative for cats, too. Fine. Dating was complicated and she needed a break from it anyway. Maybe a year would do it, giving her time to focus on what was important. Like getting up the courage to tell Gram she was tired of selling children’s things and wanted to sell women’s clothes instead. Having Bedecked close was an opportunity not to be missed. It was a sign that the time was right. Courage. That was all she needed. Maybe she could order some on line and she’d be all set.

She went slowly up the stairs to her apartment and turned on the TV for company as she made dinner. Maybe a nice tear jerker was in order tonight. And tomorrow she’d tell Emma about her latest relationship disaster since she couldn’t summon the energy tonight. When she felt another tear roll down her cheek she grabbed her phone and tapped the screen.

Hi, Lexi.

Lexi sniffed. Mom? Keith dumped me.

Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Do you want to come over?

No. I was just hoping you could say something nice to me so I don’t feel like such a loser. Sniffing again, she said, I should have listened to Gram when she said blond guys are flighty and unreliable. Lexi closed her eyes and put her head back against the couch as she listened to her mother’s kind words, and by the time they disconnected, she was feeling much better about herself. Well, at least a little better.

Chapter 2

Linc had hoped he’d be ready to open by the upcoming weekend, but everything seemed to have taken twice as long as he’d expected. Which could be because he had no clue what he was doing. Buy a store, fill it with what he thought would sell, then wait for customers to show up ready to spend. Seemed simple enough. Getting the shelves and cases and racks in place should have been easy, and would have been easy for somebody else. Somebody who’d been smart enough to hire people who knew what was what. But he’d wanted to do it himself, so here he stood, looking around and wondering if the place, and consequently his life, were as big a mess as they seemed to be.

The first shipment was coming tomorrow and he needed to be ready to stock shelves, not leave everything in boxes in the back room until he figured out what to do with it all. Nope. That wasn’t going to happen. He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen, hoping Justin would be as free with advice about a retail store as he was about everything else. After sending a text, he walked around slowly, eying what he’d done so far, wishing he could take down the brown paper that covered the windows and the door. He’d had enough of the claustrophobic vibes it gave off, but he didn’t need an audience looking in and seeing him stumbling around. His shoulder wasn’t having one of its good days and he put a hand on it, giving it a squeeze, and he wondered if moving to the coast was going to prove a serious error in judgment. Justin had told him about how the winter cold went right to his bones, but Linc hoped he’d been exaggerating. If he was already feeling like somebody’s grandfather with bones that ached with the cold when it was only November, he’d be wearing double or triple layers this winter just to stay warm.

When he’d had about enough of the self-doubt, he took a ride to Bentley Heights Beach, parking in the empty lot as close to the water as he could, and stared at the waves for a while, watching the sun dancing on the water. He’d been impressed enough by the ocean the first time he’d seen it when he was playing college ball in the summer league in Bentley that he’d decided to make his home here. It was a shame his folks were back in Barnes County, Ohio, but he couldn’t expect them to move East just because he could no longer show his face there.

But he’d reached the point where a little space, or even a lot of space, wasn’t a bad thing. He could still see his mom’s pitying looks during his endless recovery. Having had to move back to his old room because he couldn’t seem to function on his own or get himself to the never-ending medical appointments had been hellishly humbling. A broken spirit was his mom’s diagnosis, but she didn’t know he’d heard her share that with his dad. It only doubled the pitying looks, and his emotions the day he was finally able to get back to his adult life, even if it was half a country away, had been almost powerful enough to bring him to his knees.

When Lexi saw Joel and his mail cart approaching her front door she went to greet him.

Morning, Lexi.

Hi, Joel. She took the small pile of envelopes from him. Thanks. Have you heard what’s going in next door? It occurred to her after she asked that even if he had it could be considered confidential, on a need to know basis only. Kind of like the medical field, only for mail.

Not yet.

Nobody has. I wish they’d hurry up and open.

Any mail?

Nothing today. Thanks. She watched him take the crosswalk to the next block, his first stop Godiva’s salon, and she grinned as she thought about how few words she’d ever heard Joel speak. If he could get away with two-word sentences, he did. There was much speculation among the older single women in Bentley about his marital status. He didn’t wear a wedding band, which they all knew didn’t always indicate singlehood. The fact he was handsome, a silver fox, according to Godiva, meant he was a frequent topic of discussion at the salon. Godiva and Netty seemed to be the most interested, and when the subject of Joel arose at Netty’s café, the Sunny Side, and there were no males within hearing distance, opinions were tossed around like ping pong balls.

When Emma came in to work, she joined Lexi behind the counter.

Keith came by last night and dumped me because I’m negative.

"What a rat. You are not."

Apparently I am. And also critical.

Are you okay? Emma put her hand on Lexi’s arm.

"Fine. I’m fine. Mostly. Being rejected is just so... so... ugh."

"Exactly. He is such a loser and I never liked him. He was always trying to change you and you’re perfectly perfect the way you are. I never understood why he didn’t get that."

Thanks for making me feel better, Em. But you know what? I decided he was good for something. He helped me see dating is too much trouble, so I’m done with it.

Forever? You’re only 32.

Maybe I’ll only be done with it until I’m 33. That didn’t sound critical at all. So there, Keith.

When lunch time finally rolled around, Lexi was itching to get out of the shop for a few minutes and hurried across the street to the Sunny Side, where she waved to the handful of friends and fellow shop owners seated at the tables. Reading the neatly printed specials on the blackboard, she waited in line for her turn at the counter.

Hi, Lexi. What can we get you today?

She handed her card to Netty. Two baked potato soups, please.

Thank you. It’ll be two minutes.

Lexi chatted with the other customers while she waited and it wasn’t long before the subject of her mystery neighbor came up. I wish we knew what’s going in there. Don’t you?

All set, Lexi, Netty called, holding up the white paper bag.

See you all later. She returned to the counter. Thanks, Netty. Have a great day. Stepping out into the sunshine, she shivered when a cold wind came whipping down the street. Maybe that would teach her to put on a coat, even for short trips. It was November, after all, not June. She glanced at the shop with the papered windows as she ran back to Stairsteps, shaking her head. The curiosity was driving her right up a wall.

Chapter 3

Linc watched Justin make a slow circuit of the store, waiting for the verdict. What do you think? Pass go and collect $200, or should I go straight to jail and hope to throw doubles?

You worked at that sports’ store in the off-seasons for what? Five years? Don’t you remember how things were set up?

Linc stared at him. You aren’t seeing the difference between a superstore and my store? Maybe you need to have your eyes checked.

Fine. Justin rolled up his sleeves, then pointed. Those shelves against that wall, those racks in front of them, and the cases along that wall. Then dinner at the Post.

What’s the Post?

Hitching Post. Best steaks around.

You’re on.

You’re buying.

The least I can do. He stepped over to a display case. Let’s get to it.

Did your sign come in yet?

Friday, they said.

You said Wilkins is doing it?

That’s right.

Anybody come over yet?

Like who?

Your neighbors. This town is nothing if not curious, according to my mother. Or maybe nosy is a better word.

Sounds about right. All small towns are the same. No visitors yet, though.

"Wait ‘til you put